Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-03-26

There is q rich family of the name
OF Lofting in England" said dealer in
fancy articles, ''the fortune Of whose
house was founded by such an appar-
emily insignificant little thing as the
thimble Two hundred years ago Thin
bles were unknown in England. Tie
thimble is claimed by the Dutch as an
invention Of tha, country, but it is
known now that it was in use by the
silk embroiderers Of China hundreds of
years before it was used elsewhere. The
first thImb,e ever seen IN England wasA
made in London less than 200 years ago
by meta. worker named John Lofting,
the founder Of the family named. The
usefulness of the articles commended it
at once to all who used the needle, and
Lofting acquired large fortune and
great fame in the manufacture of the
new accessory to the needle-worke. s
art. The implement was then called
the thumb bell, it being worn on the
thumb when in use. The clumsy mode
of utilizing it was soon changed, how
ever, but when and why the name thin
bic was given the article does not ap
pear lettings thimbles, and, in fact
all thimbles, were made either of iron or
brass, and specimens of them extant,
many Of which are preserved as heir
f looms, are crude and clumsy looking
things compared with the commonest
thimble of to-day, although their cost
was many times as much
To-day gold, silver, iron, ivory, steel,
sometimes glass and even pearl, and
celuoid are utilized in making thimbles.
Since art needle work became the
fashionable craze in this country, Thin
bles of most elaborate workmanship and
great value, to accompany the rich and
costly impleth hents and materials wealthy
needle work trs affect, have found large
sale. Solid gold thimbles, elegantly
carved, and frequently set with dia-
monds, have been found none too good
for many of our fashionable home direc-
tors. Ihimbles to be made to order,
with the monogram or initials of the
person for whom they are intended set
In precious stones are not by any means
| unknown. know rich young lady OF
this town, whose enthusiasm for art
needle work was SO great year ago,
that nothing but gold and diamond set
thmble that cost 800, with other en-
| broidering implements to match, would
enable her to reproduce those fearful and
wonderful butter-cups, daisies, and blue
bells that one sees blooming in sucI
| prodigal profusion OH foot stools, banners,
tides, and bureau covers in all homes o1
! culture and refinement.
''In China the ladies of high class ART
very dainty Of their thimbes. Some ART
carved from enormous pearls, witt
bands Of fine gold, on which are en-
graved all sorts of fantastic
things, the etchings of whicl
serve for catching the needle
as the holes Of the outsid
harbarians thimblcs do. The thimbl'
always has a mother-of-pearl case. Witt
the thimble the Chinese lady always ha
delicate pair of scissors of the fines
steel, in a sheath Of pearl, and pear
needle case. The articles are all en-
closed in an exqu.sitely inlaid case o
the purcst mothcr-of-pcarl. \ Ney
York lady, whose husband was in tn
China trade, has one of these Chimes
needle work kits, SO to speak, whicl
she values at $4,000.
The way thim5les are made in thi
country and England IS simple enough
Dies Of the different sizes are used, int
which the metal, whether gold, silver
or steel, is pressed. The ho,e punching
finishing, and polishing or temperin.
are done afterward. Cellu'oid is mould
Ell. The best thimbles are made i
France, where the process is NOR
thorough. Strange IS 1t may seem, th
French consider durability in their gol
thimbIes as The first requisite. The frs
step n the aaak,nc Of Paris gold TIM
bic i the cutting into disk Of the d6
sired size a thin piece ot sheet iror
This is heatei - red heat, placed ovt
! L L